New Loire arrivals had me lickin` my lips!

As mentioned elsewhere, the staff from DeVines store here in town joined myself and friend Nick for a tasting of recently-arrived Loire reds and whites. There had been a noticeable gap in the Loire selection on the store shelves of late but now problem solved!
All wines imported by Marc Vigneron who used to work here in town before returning to Loire valley and open a B and B. The names may not be well-known to many here, that is the joy of having a local look around for the smaller undiscovered domaines.

WTN: `05 Chateau Prince Anjou-Villages Brissac.

100% Cab Franc, only 200 cases produced, $24 Cdn, 14.6% alc. Good quality natural cork, nice modern label presentation. Very little info on the `net, I could not access their website.

The color was a very deep garnet with violet tinges on the rim.
Nose showed kirsch, brambleberry/loganberry, hint of green peppers. Not your traditional CF nose eh!
On the palate, over-ripe blackberry/cassis. Sharp acidity, lots of tannin below the fruits but not green, I served slightly chilled. This wine was not a complete fruit-bomb but yes intense. Found some earthyness as it warmed. I liked this a lot!
Nick suggested Tuna Carpacchio as a food match and was a brilliant suggestion with the green peppercorns and the shallot/sake miso sauce. "The fruit intensity of the wine matches the flavors on the plate".

WTN: `07 Saumur-Champigny Clos du Chateau de Parnay.

Another small winery from the same stable as above? 100% Cab Franc, 13.5% alc, $24 Cdn, owner is Mathais Levron.

Violets, mint, green peppers on the nose. This is classic cab franc, elegant, very dry, young. Short blunt finish, needs time for sure. Raspberry, cherry, herbal..much more classic than the wine above. "Does not have the ripeness of the `05s" was a comment.
These two wines created plenty of discussion, needless to say.

WTN: `07 Coteaux de l`Aubance, Chateau Prince.

I think the price is pretty good, only $27 Cdn. 12% alc, good cork.
Hard usually to find this appellation here in AB-land, have to buy on my London visits.
Apple, pear, honeyed. Very intense flavors with a big structure, there was some debate about the acidity, did it have enough? Surely masked by all the rich fruit I thought.
Food match was a pineapple/pina colado creme brulee which really worked. Will cellar a few bottles for sure.

We left the much-acclaimed Langlois 100% sparkling Cab Franc "Carmin Dry" for another day so stay tuned forumites

Sounds appetising!! Some estates here which are hardly on my radar screen but should be.

Re Nick's suggestion of tuna carpaccio as a pairing for the Anjou, I agree. I find that Loire CabFranc of the freshly fruity, early drinking kind goes very well slightly cool with a lot of tasty fish; not perhaps with sophisticated sole, turbot and lobster but the rougher kind, e.g. tuna, sardines, anchovy, mackerel.

Tim, I was really wondering about his tuna idea but it sure worked. I thought the Brissac a tad new wave, but will appeal to those fruity-type shiraz buffs. Nice cross-over for them, if they can find it!!
Did my notes on the Saumur seem true to form ? I have no real experience. Dale posted on an `07 the other day and his notes ring a bell.

I might have thought that the tannins in an AV-Brissac would be a bit much for a tartare/carpaccio preparation, but I guess the miso soy dressing helped deepen the fish for the wine. Am sure it was delicious.